Rusk on team news, resilience and fans
Southampton interim boss Simon Rusk has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Arsenal at St Mary's (kick-off 16:00 BST).Here are the key lines from his news conference:Rusk ruled out Taylor Harwood-Bellis and said Jan Bednarek is still struggling with his knee injury so is likely to miss out. He also said Albert Gronbaek has been struggling with his Achilles.On whether the players will have built resilience this season: "Everyone this year at this football club, as difficult as it has been, when we reflect, will have new layers as a person, a footballer. Part of that is being robust and the more experience I think you have in life, the more robust you can be if you use it properly."On this weekend: "Every game presents an opportunity. It's an opportunity for us to finish the season as well as we can. I spoke about playing with pride and passion - that'll be important on the day but also being diligent with our work."Rusk praised Mateus Fernandes but said there's "another level to his game", adding: "That's natural for someone who is 20 years old playing in the Premier League in a team that has had a difficult year. Matty, as a lad and character, is right up there. I'm sure the other bits of development in his game will come in time."He was asked whether Kyle Walker-Peters will start: "He has had a nasty illness and that has taken a bit of getting over. Naturally at this time we're looking at one or two of the younger ones around the group. We've spoken about momentum for next season, so there are one or two complexities with that. What I can tell you is Kyle has been great to work with, a great servant to the club and, whether he starts or not, he's someone we can fully appreciate."Rusk praised the way the fans have stuck with them this season: "The one thing I know this football club will always have is great support. There's going to be years it's not so good and years it's really good and the people are there all the way through, generationally, are the supporters, the rest of us all come and go."On his position as first-team coach at the club: "Whatever happens moving forward, I'm sure when the time is right the guys above me will let me know. But as it stands, preparing for this game on Sunday will remain my focus."Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news
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